Coneta: Hiking Trails, Water and Colonial Churches

Coneta is known for the Río de Miraflores, natural attractions and colonial church architecture. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, these highlights can help you organize your interests: are you mainly interested in water and scenery, a hike with river crossings, or architectural history? The wider destination of Departamento Capayán offers additional nature and culture themes, which should be distinguished from Coneta's own profile.

River Landscapes and Hiking

The Camping Municipal «CONETA» is located on the Río de Miraflores and has two swimming pools: one large and one small. If you plan to use the pools, check their current availability before visiting. Another place to enjoy the water is El Lavatorio, a natural pool with a small waterfall in the Quebrada de San Lorenzo, which the Río de Miraflores runs through.

A hiking trail from the Camping Municipal de Coneta Viejo leads to the El Lavatorio waterfall after approximately 2.6 km. The hike is considered moderately difficult and requires crossing the river several times; trail conditions can change seasonally. Check conditions before setting out and take the river crossings into account when planning. The Salto de la Rana is on the same trail, about 500 m beyond El Lavatorio. This lets you divide the outing into two successive sections: first to El Lavatorio, then about half a kilometer farther to Salto de la Rana.

Colonial Architecture and Equestrian History

The temples of Coneta illustrate the continuing presence of colonial style in Catamarca. One specific example of colonial religious architecture in northwestern Argentina is the Iglesia San Antonio de Padua in Coneta. Its present-day church building was inaugurated in 1750. This connects the general characterization of the temples with a specific historical date for the named church.

The town's history also has a connection to equestrian sports: a 2019 account places the beginnings of the Cabalgatas Catamarca riding business at Finca La Inesita in Coneta and describes a polo field and many horses there.

The Wider Destination of Departamento Capayán

Departamento Capayán is home to the Reserva Natural Municipal Los Capayanes, a nature reserve with sierras and native flora and fauna. The reserve offers hiking trails for nature tourism. Another natural area is the proposed protected area of Arrayanes de Concepción. The project description identifies southern remnants of montane Yungas forests and cloud grasslands there. The area is home to about 200 bird species, including migratory birds.

From the town of Concepción, the Bosque de Arrayanes can be reached on foot or on horseback along a moderately difficult, 11 km route, accompanied by an authorized operator or guide. The route runs between two ravines along the Río Pampichuela and the Arroyo del Bosque. The distances mentioned represent different scales: approximately 2.6 km to El Lavatorio in Coneta, compared with 11 km to the Bosque de Arrayanes. Both routes are moderately difficult; access to the forest is intended to be accompanied by an authorized operator or guide.

The Fiesta Nacional de la Mandarina is also rooted in Departamento Capayán: it has been held annually in Chumbicha since 1974 and was declared a National Festival. It celebrates rural work connected with mandarin cultivation. The festival includes craft fairs, stalls selling regional products and a courtyard serving regional dishes, where visitors can sample the area's characteristic flavors.

Discover more destinations: Tinogasta, Las Mojarras, Cerro Negro, La Merced, San Fernando Del Valle De Catamarca.

Return to the main travel overview: Catamarca.